Aldermen explain hiring practices

The Mountain View Board of Aldermen took the opportunity of a Jan. 26 special session to address concerns about the city’s hiring practices.

Alderman Murray Anderson led this line item in response to questions about how the city hires or promotes employees, particularly employees who are related to existing city employees. According to the draft minutes, he explained that the mayor, the aldermen, and department heads work together to make hiring decisions. Ultimately, the board of aldermen make the decision.

This process “makes sure” there are no conflicts of interest. Aldermen routinely abstain from voting on any matter that concerns their relatives. 

According to the city’s employee handbook, family members may work with each other, but may not work under the same supervisor, City Attorney Deedra Nicholson clarified. 

Police Chief Jamie Perkins commented that the circumstance of family members working together is “hard to avoid in small towns.”

The meeting’s first agenda item was the need for electrical upgrades in the downtown alleys. Without repair, there is a risk the south side of town will lose power, Mayor John Krasuski reported. Alderman Punkie Stevenson moved that the project proceed on the mayor’s recommendation with the contingency that the city obtain financing. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of three. Alderwoman Laura Wagner was absent from this meeting. 

The aldermen also voted to establish rental rates for the Mountain View Community Center. The city voted in their last meeting to assume management of the facility rentals. Rates will be $25 per hour with a two-hour minimum. The daily charge is $100, and each rental will require a $60 cleaning deposit. City employees will be able to rent the center at a discounted rate. The city will continue to provide office space to the Chamber of Commerce, Mountain View Community Betterment, and the center director. 

In other business:

-The aldermen voted to institute a program to send employees to lineman instruction. 

-Lift station pumps have recently been replaced, creating a back-up plan if the pump at Southern Hills fails.

-In the “Mayor’s Minutes,” Mayor Krasuski and Alderman Anderson acknowledged city workers who battled the snow and kept the city running. 

-The aldermen withdrew into closed session for employee-related matters at 7:59 p.m., and returned to open session at 8:50 p.m. There were no votes or motions related to the closed session.